A Mississippi Tea Party official arrested as part of a U.S. Senate campaign scandal is dead in an apparent suicide, police said Friday.

Ridgeland, Mississippi, police said in a statement that they received a call shortly after 9 a.m. Friday morning from the wife of the official, Mark Mayfield. Upon entering the residence, they found Mayfield dead with a single gunshot wound to his head.

The death is still under investigation, but police said they do not expect foul play.

"Regardless of recent allegations made against his character, Mark Mayfield was a fine Christian man who was always respectful and kind," McDaniel said in a statement Friday afternoon. "He was one of the most polite and humble men I've ever met in politics. He was a loving husband, father, a pillar of his community, and he will be missed. We are saddened by his loss, and we send our thoughts and prayers to his wife, his family and friends."

John Reeves, an attorney representing Mayfield, on the day of the arrest that Mayfield "maintains his innocence." He also said Mayfield had "no connection whatsoever" to Kelly.